13 days and 190km/118mi of gorgeous views, smiling locals and fellow hikers. Cow dung and adjacent flies, (other) monkeys on and off the trail, and plenty of Daal Bhat. But only one beer.
Surely the Annapurna Circuit falls short of the depth of the hikerculture surrounding a long-distance trail, like the PCT.
But the AC more than makes up for it in the sheer grandeur of...everything. Peaks so high, valleys so deep and wide, and views so majestic to remind you of the greatest architect.
All of it makes you realize that no matter how I or we fuck up, nature´ll stand up to our stupidity. We might not last our faults, it will.
Tips for the AC:
- Bring your own water bottle or reuse a purchased plastic bottle for as long as possible.
- Take care of what you drink. Either rely on the safe water drinking stations or bring a filter/enough water purification tablets. And buy the tablets in Nepal for a fraction of the price at home. But remember to read the instructions! Tablets whould not be used for extended periods.
- Accommodation is readily available. Negotiate for a del. In many guesthouses accommodation is free of charge if you eat at their restaurant.
- A budget hiker survives on about 15€ a day, but 20-25€ would allow for a more plentiful meal plan, and the occasional intoxicant.
- Choose the high route alternative for better views, acclimatization and sweating.
- Attend the Accute Mountain Sickness-lecture in Manang and get your blood oxygen levels and heartrate checked. Leave a donation.
- Consider a preventive dosage (125mg) of acetazolamide twice daily (eg. Diamox) to speed up acclimatization.
- Do the 2-3 day side trek to Tilicho Lake. Well worth the effort.
- Bring sunscreen, also for your lips.
- Do not skip a breakfast. Do as we say, not as we do.
